Australia tightened their grip on the Pink-ball Test at the Gabba, piling on a commanding 511 before ripping through England’s top order to leave the visitors wobbling at 134/6, still 43 runs behind, by stumps on Day 3.
What began as a balanced contest at 378/6 quickly tilted Australia’s way as Mitchell Starc delivered a standout all-round performance, first with a gritty 77, then with a pair of late wickets that deepened England’s trouble.
Australia’s Lower Order Turns the Match on Its Head
Starting the morning at 378/6, Australia briefly stumbled when Michael Neser fell early. But Alex Carey (63) and Mitchell Starc steadied the innings with a bright 53-run stand, pushing the score past 400.
Starc then shifted gears, batting with old-school Test patience, his fifty arrived off 100 balls, before he unleashed a few trademark drives. Alongside Scott Boland (21*), he stitched a valuable 75-run ninth-wicket partnership that frustrated England and ballooned the lead.
Brydon Carse (4-162) and Ben Stokes (3-113) toiled without much reward on a surface that began to show cracks, literally and figuratively.
England Sink After Solid Start
England’s chase began promisingly with Zak Crawley (44) and Ben Duckett (15) adding 48 for the opening stand. But once Duckett’s off stump was disturbed by Boland, the slide gathered momentum.
Neser struck twice, dismissing Ollie Pope (26) and Crawley with sharp return catches, before Starc re-entered the attack and removed the key man: Joe Root, who edged behind for 15 after his first-innings century.
With Harry Brook and Jamie Smith falling before the close, England were left teetering, six down and still in arrears.
Starc’s Day Out: A Bowler’s Grit and a Batter’s Steel
Starc ended the day with match figures of 8 wickets across two innings and a priceless 77 with the bat, his best Test score in nearly a decade.
We just wanted to put as many balls in the right area as we could… On this kind of wicket, with some up and down, if we hit the right spots they’re going to give you chances.
He also praised Starc’s resilience: “Every fast bowler is in a little bit of pain, but he seems to push through better than most.”
England’s Uphill Mission on Day 4
England must first erase Australia’s 43-run lead before thinking about setting a defendable target, 150 would be the bare minimum. Ben Stokes (4*) and Will Jacks (4*) remain, but the pitch is breaking up, and batting will only grow harder.
For inspiration, England may look to the heroics of Justin Greaves’ unbeaten 202 in the West Indies’ spirited chase of 518 against New Zealand earlier this week. Test cricket has produced stranger things. But right now, England stare at a steep climb.
Brief Scores: Australia 511 all out (117.3 overs) (Starc 77, Weatherald 72, Labuschagne 65, Smith 61, Carey 63, Carse 4-152, Stokes 3-113; England 334 & 134/6 (35 overs) Crawley 44, Pope 26, Starc 2-48, Neser 2-27, Boland 2-33. Australia lead by 43 runs.
